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Towson U. president takes leave of absence
Towson University has a new acting president: Tim Chandler, who has served as provost and vice president for academic affairs since January 2013.
Chandler’s presidency is effective immediately, said University System of Maryland Chancellor William E. “Brit” Kirwan, who made the announcement Thursday afternoon.
The sudden change was necessitated by an announcement from Maravene Loeschke, who has been president of TU since January 2012, that she will be taking a leave of absence through December due to health problems.
In April, Loeschke informed the university community she had been diagnosed with early-stage cancer of the adrenal gland. She said at the time that she had undergone surgery and would be beginning radiation therapy.
“The members of the USM Board of Regents and I respect President Loeschke’s need at this time to focus on the issues that she is facing,” Kirwan said in a statement. “She, of course, has our full support and best wishes for a speedy recovery and return to the presidency.”
Kirwan said he is confident that Chandler will be an effective leader over the next few months.
Loeschke previously was president of Mansfield University in Pennsylvania. A Baltimore native and a drama student at Towson, she also had served as dean of the university’s College of Fine Arts and Education.
